A tribute to a treasured 20th century American composer, performances by internationally acclaimed soloists and the long-awaited return of a holiday classic are among the offerings when Redlands Symphony’s new season opens on Saturday, Nov. 3.
“It’s going to be quite a year and I’m eager to get back on the podium and begin making music again,” said Ransom Wilson, Redlands Symphony music director and conductor. The first program, “West Side Story,” celebrates what would have been the 100th birthday for Leonard Bernstein — the award-winning, multi-faceted musician and conductor from Massachusetts.
Redlands native and renowned soprano Angel Blue guests on “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Maestro Wilson will conduct the symphony on “Fanfare for American War Heroes,” by William Grant Still, often referred to as “The Dean” of African-American classical composers. Then they will move onto Bernstein’s suite from “On the Waterfront,” selections from “West Side Story,” “Candide” Overture and “Symphony No. 2 – The Age of Anxiety.”
The latter features Christopher O’Riley, acclaimed classical pianist and longtime host of NPR’s “From the Top,” making his orchestral and Inland Empire debuts.
Wilson has worked with O’Riley in the past, both as a conductor and flutist. He said concertgoers should be familiar with a couple Bernstein works, but “The Age of Anxiety” is lesser known. Bernstein “was a complex composer and our concert reflects more than one aspect” of his career.
For the first time in more than 40 years, Redlands Symphony is presenting a holiday program on Dec. 15. “A Christmas Carol: The Concert,” based on Charles Dickens’ classic novella, has singing actors and the Inland Master Chorale.
According to Paul Ideker, Redlands Symphony CEO and president, the long absence stemmed from not wanting to conflict with University of Redlands’ annual Feast of Lights. Both the school and symphony organization recently agreed they could mutually co-exist.
“Maybe it’ll become a new tradition,” he said.
On Feb. 2, “The Magic of Mozart” features guest appearances by Lawrence Dutton and Phil Setzer from the Emerson String Quartet on Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra.”
“Our audience is really receptive to Mozart,” explained Ideker. “It’s also one of Ransom Wilson’s favorites.”
The conductor concurred, “I am thrilled and honored to have members of the Emerson String Quartet perform with our orchestra here in Redlands. This will be a remarkable musical event.
“We were all at Juilliard together and it is always a joy to get together again,” Wilson noted, about the Emerson musicians.
Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Bach’s “Magnificat in D” make up the April 6 program “Heavenly Voices,” featuring the University of Redlands Chapel Singers.
“We haven’t done a big choral piece in a long time,” said Ideker. “We got together with the university choruses and they were ready” (to commit).
Closing out the season on May 18 is “The Glorious Gift of Birds,” with works by Stravinsky, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky and Rautavaara. Some boast airy, spring-like musical textures.
“Birds have fascinated composers since the beginning of music, and our program shows several different evocations,” Wilson said.
When it comes to putting together all the programs, Wilson explained “each season grows organically. In this case, we knew we wanted to celebrate Bernstein’s birthday, so that was the genesis. The rest came out of my desire to have a diverse program.”
Symphony president Ideker was happy to report that the season opener and holiday show are selling briskly. Also, “we’re ahead in season subscriptions over past seasons. Our renewal rate is 84 percent and our new subscriptions are ahead of the past three years.”
Redlands Symphony’s success can be attributed to a combination of factors: “The audience certainly responds to the programs. The orchestra is playing extraordinarily well. Ransom has made a home here and really connected with the audiences. He offers an entertaining program,” Ideker concluded.
If you go
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3
Where: Memorial Chapel, University of Redlands, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands
Admission: $15-$70; $5 students with ID (balcony)
Information: 909-587-5565, redlandssymphony.com
Also: “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 15; “The Magic of Mozart,” Feb. 2; “The Romance of Schumann,” March 2; “Heavenly Voices,” April 6; “The Glorious Gifts of Birds,” May 18
